"Clan head, I heard you brought outsiders into the shrine?"
Back at the compound, Uchiha Kei and the others immediately surrounded him.
Fugaku swept his gaze across them.
Aside from Uchiha Kei, the rest were all brimming with righteous indignation, furious to the core. Only Kei wore a helpless look, as if trying to restrain them.
Fugaku couldn't be bothered to dig into who was truly behind stirring this up.
He was exhausted.
With a wave of his hand, he motioned everyone inside.
Mikoto, seeing the situation, wisely took Itachi out of the house.
"You're very well-informed. Seems like the shrine is always under watch. If only you'd put the same energy into other matters, you'd realize…"
"The Uchiha clan is already standing on the brink of disaster!"
His voice carried sorrow.
These people—what were they thinking?
Disaster was at their doorstep, yet all they cared about were history, honor, and the sanctity of their ancestral grounds. If the clan itself perished, what meaning would any of that hold?
But these men…
They'd never understand. Their eyes never strayed beyond that little plot of land. They never looked outward, never looked at the shinobi world.
"Clan head, what do you mean by that?"
Uchiha Kei was visibly shocked.
There was something hidden in those words—starting off with "disaster at hand" was no small thing.
"Could it be the village is targeting us again?"
"Wouldn't that be going back on their word? I knew they weren't to be trusted!"
"Then we rebel!"
Some grew agitated.
But…
Fugaku only felt more drained. At last, he understood why Shisui's voice had grown quieter and quieter of late.
These old men…
Might as well wipe them all out.
There was no saving them.
His expression hardened, fingers tapping lightly against the table. But no one was listening. Kei, catching the shift in his gaze—from impatience to icy coldness—felt a chill run through him.
"Enough! Stop! What kind of behavior is this? Let's hear what the clan head has to say!" Kei shouted.
"Hmph, what is there to say? The village will never have good intentions. There's not a single decent Senju among them."
"Elder Kei, Clan head, are you really going to just submit like this?"
"Exactly—"
The situation teetered on the edge of chaos.
Fugaku sneered. "Are you all trying to follow in Uchiha Ki's footsteps? One by one, looking to die? Shall I send you off myself?"
"You…?"
They froze, suddenly speechless.
This demeanor from Fugaku—
They had never seen it before.
What in the world had happened?
The air fell silent, the whole room heavy with tension. The tomoe in Fugaku's eyes spun, his scarlet Sharingan glinting with killing intent.
"Clan head, we're only thinking of the clan…"
"For the clan? Sounds more like you're trying to force me off this seat so one of you can take it. Why don't you try?"
"This… no, none of us could."
"Then shut up! You're all old. Leave these matters to us, the younger generation. As for you elders—enjoy your twilight years. Stop meddling."
His meaning was crystal clear.
These men were no longer to interfere in clan affairs. They were to stay home, live out their days quietly. Otherwise, he might do something they wouldn't like.
It was both a warning and a command. Not up for debate.
The elders exchanged uneasy looks.
"You don't believe me? Then I'll tell you how Uchiha Ki's followers died. They defected not long ago, but were secretly captured a few days back. Outside the village, they were used in experiments, tortured. Their eyes were taken…"
"What…?"
"Don't open your mouths yet—or get out! Now, you're thinking Konoha was behind it, aren't you? But why would they bother? The truth is, Konoha doesn't even see us as worth their attention. Only you cling to the illusion that the Uchiha are still important."
Fugaku's tone was cutting.
"Then… who did it?"
"Uchiha Madara."
"What?"
Every face went stiff with shock.
Uchiha Madara?
That name was ancient. To anyone but the old guard, it was already forgotten. But these men remembered—the glory Madara once brought the clan.
To them, he was still a legend, the clan's pride. Except… for his betrayal of Konoha.
"Strange, isn't it? He wanted to lead you away back then, and not a single one of you followed. Why, then, would he ever still see you as his own?"
Fugaku's lips curled into a mocking smile.
He knew much of Shisui's thinking had been influenced by Kyoichi, but at this moment he had to admit—Shisui was right. Too many voices in the clan only bred ruin.
Because…
The stupidity of these men was suffocating.
Stay around them too long, and even your own intelligence would sink.
Once, the elders might have jumped up in outrage at such mockery. But now, none dared. Because this time, it felt like Fugaku truly meant every word.
They looked uneasily at one another.
"Let me tell you more. Madara's goal is to acquire new Mangekyō Sharingan. You wondered why Uchiha Ki suddenly became so powerful? That was Madara's doing. But power like that—comes at a price."
Fugaku gave a cold laugh. "Tell me, can you pay that price?"
None answered.
And for good reason—what if this was a trap? And even if it wasn't, why would Madara waste his effort on a bunch of old men with no potential?
"Madara's gone mad. He's pushing a terrifying plan. What it is, we don't yet know. But one thing is certain—the Mangekyō is the key."
Fugaku withheld the truth.
It wasn't the Mangekyō, but the Rinnegan.
But with their idiocy, they'd probably try to set their sights on Nagato.
And if that happened—
They wouldn't even need Madara. Nagato or Kyoichi alone could wipe the clan from existence.
These old fools…
Keeping them around was a danger.
Fugaku almost regretted it. Looking back, he should've taken Shisui's advice and cut them down when he had the chance. Then he wouldn't be stuck dealing with them now.
"Clan head…"
"Go home. From now on, don't involve yourselves in these matters again."
Fugaku waved them off impatiently.
At another time, he might have had the patience to spar with them verbally. But now, the clan was in real peril. External threats far outweighed internal squabbles.
And he knew where to focus.
The elders faltered, opened their mouths, then closed them again. In the end, they left in silence.
The outcome…
None of them had expected it. But remembering Fugaku's words, none dared oppose him, let alone raise a fuss with the village.
Kanda Kyoichi…
He wasn't someone to trifle with.
In their eyes, his strength already surpassed even Tobirama Senju's, making him the strongest shinobi since Hashirama himself.
No Uchiha alive could match him.
And Madara…
Though alive, as Fugaku said, Madara held no fondness for them. If anything, he probably wished they'd all die.
By comparison—
Staying quietly in the village was safer.
At least it meant survival.
After scolding them, Fugaku stepped outside. His eyes landed on young Itachi, training in the distance. He paused in thought, then turned and made his way toward Shisui.
That boy…
He was the most likely among them to awaken the Mangekyō.
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